Overhead machining device based on portable five-degree-of-freedom full parallel module

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module. The overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module comprises: a sliding table for moving a parallel module to increase the stroke of the machine tool such that the machine tool can machine large components and can also simultaneously conduct the mounting and the machining of workpieces at different stations; a CNC rotary table; and a portable 5-DOF full parallel module. The portable parallel module has a large swing angle range, can conduct the conversion between vertical and horizontal machining modes and can achieve five-face machining in one setup in cooperation with the CNC rotary table. The parallel module can move flexibly, and can machine large and complex components after mounted on the sliding table.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201810448274.5 entitled “OVERHEAD MACHINING DEVICE BASED ON PORTABLE FIVE-DEGREE-OF-FREEDOM FULL PARALLEL MODULE”, filed by TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY on May 11, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of computer numerical control (CNC) manufacturing technologies, and in particular to an overhead machining device based on a portable five-degree-of-freedom (5-DOF) full parallel module.

BACKGROUND

Recently, the mechanical design level is increasingly developing in the field of mechanical design and manufacture. The complex shapes such as spatial curved surfaces and irregular shaped holes usually appear in components. This has led to stricter requirements on manufacturing devices and machining techniques. To achieve the machining of such complex components, the manufacturing device should have the five-axis machining ability. In order to reduce the workpiece mounting times, improve the machining precision and the machining efficiency, the machining devices are required to have higher machining and rotating flexibility and to have ability to achieve five-face machining in one setup.

A parallel kinematic mechanism is a closed-loop parallel mechanism whose mobile platform and frame are connected by multiple chains. Compared with the traditional serial kinematic mechanism, the parallel kinematic mechanism has the advantages of compact structure, high rigidity, strong bearing capability, high response speed, absence of geometric error accumulation and amplification effect. Therefore, the parallel kinematic mechanism has become an ideal choice of the portable machining module. Because the lower-mobility parallel kinematic mechanisms (the DOF of which is less than six) are easier to have a large workspace, especially a rotation workspace, such mechanisms are widely researched. The 5-DOF full parallel mechanism can achieve flexible five-axis motion, so it is utilized as the portable machining module here. However, compared with the serial kinematic mechanism, the parallel kinematic mechanism still has the defects of short movement stroke and small workspace. Therefore, it is also hard to achieve the machining of large and complex components. In order to solve the problem, a feasible way is to combine a parallel machining module with a CNC rotary table and a sliding table. The advantages of the parallel kinematic mechanism are fully exerted. The novel machining device can ensure high rigidity, strong bearing capability, large swing angle range, and five-axis machining ability and expands the movement stroke and the machining range.

With the rapid development of the mechanical design and manufacture industry, demands on the complex components are increased day by day. However, the traditional machine tool generally utilizes a machining manner of firstly mounting the workpieces and then machining them at the same position, this inevitably causes the stop of the machine tool during mounting. Therefore, the usage rate of the machine tool and the yield of the components are reduced, which is urgent to be solved.

SUMMARY

The present invention seeks to solve the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent.

Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module, which may achieve the machining of large and complex components, simultaneously conducts the mounting and the machining of workpieces at different stations, and improves the usage rate and the production efficiency of a portable parallel module.

In order to achieve the above objective, an embodiment of the present invention provides an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module.

Using the portable 5-DOF full parallel module, the overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module of the embodiment of the present invention can achieve the machining of the large and complex components, conduct the mounting and the machining of the workpieces at the different stations simultaneously, and improve the usage rate and the production efficiency of the portable parallel module.

Additionally, the overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to the embodiment of the present invention may further have the following additional technical characteristics:

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the portable 5-DOF full parallel module comprises a portable frame, a spindle, and the first chain to the fifth chain for connecting the portable frame with the spindle to achieve five-axis motion.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, to the first chain, the first chain is connected with the portable frame through two mutually vertical first revolute joints and is also connected with the spindle through one second revolute joint. The first chain comprises an input-driven first screw-nut pair to achieve a rotational DOF of a screw around the nut axis and a translational DOF along the chain. For the second to the fifth chains, each chain is connected with the portable frame through two mutually vertical third revolute joints and is also connected with the spindle through two mutually vertical fourth revolute joints. Each chain comprises an input-driven second screw-nut pair to achieve the rotational DOF around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first chain comprises the first motor. One end of the first motor is connected with the portable frame through two mutually vertical revolute joints.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, to the first screw-nut pair, the nut of the first screw-nut pair is fixedly connected with the first motor to form a cylindrical kinematic pair so as to achieve the rotational DOF around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain. The screw of the first screw-nut pair is connected with the spindle through a revolute joint.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, each chain in the range of the second chain and the fifth chain comprises a motor, specifically the second motor, the third motor, the fourth motor and the fifth motor. One end of each motor is connected with the portable frame through two mutually vertical revolute joints.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, each chain in the range of the second chain and the fifth chain comprises a screw-nut pair, specifically the second screw-nut pair, the third screw-nut pair, the fourth screw-nut pair and the fifth screw-nut pair. The nut of each screw-nut pair is fixedly connected with the second motor to form a cylindrical kinematic pair so as to achieve the rotational DOF of a screw around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain. The screw of each screw-nut pair is connected with the spindle through two mutually vertical revolute joints of a Hooke's joint.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, a swing angle range of the portable 5-DOF full parallel module meets the preset conditions to achieve the conversion between vertical and horizontal machining modes.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, after the machining of a component is completed, the portable parallel module can move to the position of a mounted component through a sliding table or in a hoisting manner to conduct the machining of the next component. Thus, the mounting and the machining of the workpieces are simultaneously conducted at different stations, and the usage rate and the production efficiency of the portable parallel module are improved.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the portable 5-DOF full parallel module is driven hydraulically or by an electric cylinder or an air cylinder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a sliding table and a CNC rotary table according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded structural view of the first chain, a portable frame and a spindle of a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded structural view of the third chain, a portable frame and a spindle of a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   I—sliding table, 11—sliding table base, 12—guide rail, and         13—T-shaped slot platform;     -   II—CNC rotary table, and III—portable 5-DOF parallel module;     -   31—first chain, 311—first frame mounting part, 312—first annular         rotary part, 313—first motor fixation flange, 314—first motor,         315—first screw, 316—first U-shaped rotary part, and 317—first         spindle mounting part;     -   32—second chain, 33—third chain, 331—third frame mounting part,         332—third annular rotary part, 333—third motor fixation flange,         334—third motor, 335—third screw, 336—third U-shaped rotary         part, 337—third spherical rotary part, and 338—third spindle         mounting part;     -   34—fourth chain, 35—fifth chain, 36—portable frame, and         37—spindle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference signs represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout the specification. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary, and are only used to explain the present invention but should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

The following describes an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module comprises: a sliding table I for moving the machine tool to the positions of the components; the stroke of the machine tool is increased; the machine tool can machine large components and can also simultaneously conduct the mounting and the machining of workpieces at different stations; a CNC rotary table II; and a portable 5-DOF full parallel module III. The portable parallel module III has a large swing angle range, can conduct the conversion between vertical and horizontal machining modes and can achieve five-face machining at one setup in cooperation with the CNC rotary table. The parallel module of the overhead machining device flexibly moves, and can machine large and complex components after mounted on the sliding table. After the machining of the workpieces is completed, the parallel module can move to the position of a mounted component through the sliding table or in a hoisting manner to conduct the machining of the next component. Thus, the mounting and the machining of the workpieces are simultaneously conducted at different stations, and the usage rate and the production efficiency of the portable parallel module are improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the sliding table I comprises a sliding table base 11, a guide rail 12 and a T-shaped slot platform 13. The portable 5-DOF parallel module III is mounted on the sliding table I such that it can increase the movement stroke of the machine tool and achieve the machining of the large components.

Wherein the CNC rotary table II is mounted on the T-shaped slot platform 13 and is used for mounting the components to be machined. In combination with the portable 5-DOF parallel module III, the CNC rotary table can achieve five-face machining while once mounting.

As shown in FIG. 3, the portable 5-DOF parallel module III comprises the first chain 31, the second chain 32, the third chain 33, the fourth chain 34, the fifth chain 35, a portable frame 36 and a spindle 37.

Wherein the first chain 31 is connected with the portable frame 36 through two mutually vertical revolute joints and is also connected with the spindle 37 through a revolute joint. The first chain 31 comprises an input-driven screw-nut pair. The second chain 32 is connected with the portable frame 36 through two mutually vertical revolute joints and is also connected with the spindle 37 through two mutually vertical revolute joints. The second chain 32 comprises an input-driven screw-nut pair. The structures of the third chain 33, the fourth chain 34 and the fifth chain 35 are the same as the structure of the second chain 32. Wherein the five chains are respectively connected between the portable frame 36 and the spindle 37 to form a closed-loop parallel structure, thus achieving three rotational DOF and two translational DOF of the spindle 37.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first chain 31 comprises the first motor. One end of the first motor is connected with the portable frame 36 through a Hooke's joint or a universal joint or two mutually vertical revolute joints. A nut of the first screw-nut pair is fixedly connected with the first motor to form a cylindrical kinematic pair so as to achieve the rotational DOF of a screw around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain. The screw of the first screw-nut pair is connected with the spindle 37 through a revolute joint.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the first chain 31 comprises the first frame mounting part 311, the first annular rotary part 312, the first motor fixation flange 313, the first motor 314, the first screw 315, the first U-shaped rotary part 316 and the first spindle mounting part 317. The first frame mounting part 311 is fixedly connected with the portable frame 36 to mount the first chain. The first annular rotary part 312 is mounted on the first frame mounting part 311 to form a revolute joint. The first motor fixation flange 313 is mounted on the first annular rotary part 312 to form a revolute joint; two axes of the revolute joint are vertical with each other to form a Hooke's joint or a universal joint. The first motor 314 is fixedly connected with the first motor fixation flange 313. A rotor of the first motor is fixedly connected with the nut of the first screw-nut pair such that the first screw 315 of the first screw-nut pair achieves the rotational DOF around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain to form a cylindrical pair. The first screw 315 is fixedly connected with the first U-shaped rotary part 316. The first U-shaped rotary part 316 is connected with the first spindle mounting part 317 to form a revolute joint. The first spindle mounting part 317 is fixedly connected with the spindle 37.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the first chain 31 may further comprise: the first motor. One end of the first motor is connected with the portable frame 36 through a spherical joint or three mutually vertical revolute pairs. The nut of the first screw-nut pair is fixedly connected with the first motor. The rotational DOF around the nut axis is locked by a groove to form a translational joint so as to achieve the translational DOF along the chain. The screw of the first screw-nut pair is connected with the spindle 37 through a revolute pair.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the second chain 32, the third chain 33, the fourth chain 34 and the fifth chain 35 comprises the second motor. One end of the second motor is connected with the portable frame 36 through a Hooke's joint or a universal joint or two mutually vertical revolute joints. A nut of the second screw-nut pair is fixedly connected with the second motor to form a cylindrical kinematic pair so as to achieve the rotational DOF of a screw around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain. The screw of the second screw-nut pair is connected with the spindle 37 through a Hooke's joint or a universal joint or two mutually vertical revolute joints.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the third chain 33 comprises the third frame mounting part 331, the third annular rotary part 332, the third motor fixation flange 333, the third motor 334, the third screw 335, the third U-shaped rotary part 336, the third spherical rotary part 337 and the third spindle mounting part 338. The third frame mounting part 331 is fixedly connected with the portable frame 36 to mount the third chain. The third annular rotary part 332 is mounted on the third frame mounting part 331 to form a revolute joint. The third motor fixation flange 333 is mounted on the third annular rotary part 332 to form a revolute joint; two axes of the revolute joint are vertical with each other to form a Hooke's joint or a universal joint. The third motor 334 is fixedly connected with the third motor fixation flange 333. A rotor of the third motor is fixedly connected with the nut of the third screw-nut pair such that the third screw 335 of the third screw-nut pair achieves the rotational DOF around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the chain to form a cylindrical pair. The third screw 335 is fixedly connected with the third U-shaped rotary part 336. The third spherical rotary part 337 is mounted on the third U-shaped rotary part 336 to form a revolute joint. The third spindle mounting part 338 is mounted on the third spherical rotary part 337 to form a revolute joint; two axes of the revolute joint are vertical with each other to form a Hooke's joint or a universal joint. The third spindle mounting part 338 is fixedly connected with the spindle 37.

In another embodiment of the present invention, each of the second chain 32, the third chain 33, the fourth chain 34 and the fifth chain 35 comprises the second motor. One end of the second motor is connected with the portable frame 36 through a spherical joint or three mutually vertical revolute joints. The nut of the second screw-nut pair is fixedly connected with the second motor. The rotational DOF around the nut axis is locked by a groove to form a translational joint so as to achieve the translational DOF along the chain. The screw of the second screw-nut pair is connected with the spindle 37 through a Hooke's joint or a universal joint or two mutually vertical revolute joints.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, the portable 5-DOF parallel module III is mounted on the sliding table I such that it can increase the movement stroke of the machine tool and achieve the machining of the large and complex components.

Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, after the machining of the workpieces is completed, the portable 5-DOF parallel module III can move to the position of a mounted component in a hoisting manner to conduct the machining of the next workpiece. Thus, the mounting and the machining of the workpieces are simultaneously conducted, the mounting time of the workpieces is saved, and the usage rate of the portable 5-DOF parallel module is improved.

In one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module. After the machining of the workpieces is completed, the portable 5-DOF parallel module III can move to the position of a mounted component through a large-stroke sliding table to conduct the machining of the next workpiece.

The parallel module of the overhead machining device based on a portable 5-DOF full parallel module in the embodiments of the present invention is flexible to move. After the parallel module is mounted on the sliding table, its stroke can be increased. Using the parallel module, the machining of the large and complex components can be achieved, the mounting and the machining of the workpieces can be simultaneously conducted at different stations, and the usage rate and the production efficiency of the portable parallel module are improved.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that orientations or position relationships indicated by terms “center”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside”, “outside”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential”, etc. are orientations or position relationships as shown in the accompanying drawings, and these terms are just used to facilitate description of the present invention and simplify the description, but not to indicate or imply that the mentioned apparatus or elements must have a specific orientation and must be established and operated in a specific orientation, and thus, these terms cannot be understood as a limitation to the present invention.

Moreover, the terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like described in the present invention are used herein only for the purpose of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance, or implicitly indicate the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined by “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In description of the present invention, “a plurality of” means at least two, for example, two or three, unless otherwise clearly and specifically limited.

In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, meanings of terms “installation”, “connected”, “connection”, “fixing”, and the like should be understood in a board sense. For example, “connection” may be a fixed connection, a removable connection, or integration; may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; may be a direct connection or an indirect connection implemented by using an intermediate medium; or may be intercommunication between two components or an interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly limited. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand specific meanings of the foregoing terms in the present invention based on a specific situation.

In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature being “above” or “below” the second feature may include the first feature and the second feature being in direct contact, or may also include the first feature and the second feature being in indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Further, the first feature being “over”, “above” or “on the top of” the second feature may include the first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicates the horizontal height of the first feature being greater than that of the second feature. The first feature being “under”, “below” or “underneath” the second feature may include the first feature being directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or merely indicates the horizontal height of the first feature being less than that of the second feature.

Reference to phrases such as “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “an example”, “a specific example”, and “some examples” in the specification mean that specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with the embodiment(s) or example(s) are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In the specification, the schematic expressions of the phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the described specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Additionally, in a non-conflicting situation, those skilled in the art may joint and combine different embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in the specification.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limitations to the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may make changes, modifications, replacements and variations to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. An overhead machining device comprising: a sliding table to move a machine tool to a position of a component; a computer numerical control (CNC) rotary table; and a portable 5-degree of freedom (5-DOF) full parallel module configured to interact with the CNC rotary table to achieve five-face machining, the portable 5-DOF full parallel module comprising a first swing angle range to convert between vertical and horizontal machine modes.
 2. The overhead machining device of claim 1, wherein the portable 5-DOF full parallel module comprises: a portable frame; a spindle; and five chains to connect the portable frame to the spindle to achieve five-axis motion.
 3. The overhead machining device of claim 2, wherein a first chain connected to the portable frame through two mutually vertical first revolute joints and to the spindle through one second revolute joint, the first chain comprising an input-driven first screw-nut pair to achieve a rotational degree of freedom (DOF) around a nut axis and a translational DOF along the first chain; and for a second chain, a third chain, a fourth chain, and a fifth chain, each chain connected to the portable frame through two mutually vertical revolute joints and to the spindle through two mutually vertical revolute joints, each chain comprising an input-driven screw-nut pair to achieve a rotational DOF around a nut axis and a translational DOF along the second, third, fourth, or fifth chain, respectively.
 4. The overhead machining device of claim 3, wherein the first chain further comprises a first motor comprising a first end connected to the portable frame through two mutually vertical revolute joints.
 5. The overhead machining device of claim 4, wherein nut of the first screw-nut pair is fixedly connected to the first motor to form a cylindrical kinematic pair to achieve the rotational DOF around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the first chain, and wherein the screw of the first screw-nut pair is connected to the spindle via a revolute joint.
 6. The overhead machining device of claim 3, wherein each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth chains further comprises a motor, and wherein each motor comprises a first end connected to the portable frame through two mutually vertical revolute joints.
 7. The overhead machining device of claim 6, wherein each screw of each screw-nut pair of the second, third, fourth, and fifth chains is connected with the spindle through two mutually vertical revolute joints of a Hooke's joint, and wherein each nut of each screw-nut pair of the second, third, fourth, and fifth chains is fixedly connected to the motor each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth chains to form a cylindrical kinematic pair to achieve the rotational DOF of the screw around the nut axis and the translational DOF along the second, third, fourth, and fifth chains, respectively.
 8. The overhead machining device of claim 1, wherein the swing angle range of the portable 5-DOF full parallel module meets a preset condition to achieve the conversion between vertical and horizontal machining modes.
 9. The overhead machining device of claim 1, wherein the 5-DOF full parallel module is moveable from a first position to machine a first component to a second position to machine a second component, and wherein the 5-DOF full parallel module is moveable via a sliding table or by hoisting.
 10. The overhead machining device of claim 1, wherein the portable 5-DOF full parallel module is driven hydraulically or by an electric cylinder or an air cylinder. 